Train-announcing apparatus



March 10, 1931. w. L. WARD TRAIN ANNOUNCING APARATUS a sheets-sheet 2l Filed April 22, 1927 t m n w NL md j .m r f OO O OO o o O o O OO O flttouwqi 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 3' W. L. WARD TRAIN ANNOUCING APARATUS Filed April 22 March 10, 1931.V

March l0, 1931. w. L. WARD TRAIN ANNOUNCING APPARATUS Filed April 22, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 10,1931; w 1 WARD 1,795,458

TRA I N ANNOUNC ING APPARATUS Filed April 22, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 5" l e Hoz new March lo, 1931. w- L WARD 1,795,458

TRAIN NNOUNGING APPARATUS Filed April 22. 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 91 Patented Mar. 10, 1931 YJALTER PATENT OFFICE IVAR-D, OF WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 GEORGE J'. ROGERS, OF WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA TRAIN-ANNOUNCING APPARATUS Application filed April 22,

This invention relates to a device for visually announcing the departure of trains7 and more particularly for displaying complete information about each train, for warning the proximity of the time of departure and indicating the gate and route leading to the train which is about to leave.

One of the objects of my invention is to `provide a visual system, which for a conveniently long time before the departure of any given train, will prominently lisplay complete information about the train, that is, the particular railroad. the ultimate destination, track number, time of departure, and the en route stops.

Another object is to extend a warning by changing the color of the display concerning a given train, to announce that the train is ready and may be boarded, and also to indicate the path to be followed by the passengers to that particular train. A further object is to provide a panel or board of such design that all necessary information may be displayed at. the proper time, but still havin restricted surface area consistent with ready legibility. Further objects will appear from the following description of the apparatus constituting my invention. rl`he essential characteristics are summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation of the illuminable panel and the control board associated there-with; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing a partial transverse section of the panel; Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the panel showing the driving mechanism for changing the legends displayed thereon; Fig. 4 is a. horizontal section looking downwardly on the panel along the plane 4 4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 5 5 in Fi g. 4 showing` a single driving gearing with latch and securing mechanism associated therewith; Figs. 6 and 7 are electric diagrams of the illuminating circuit and the control therefor.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, I indicate at 10 a panel section carrying a permanent legend to wit, Train leaves for, Track, Stops at and At, The other 1927. Serial N0. 185,881.

information shown at 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 i a ljustably positioned to appear upon the g1 en panel section to designate a particular train. Thus at 15, by suitable initials the name of the railroad appears; at 11, the ultimate destination of the train; at 12, the hour of departure; at 13, the track number; and at 14, the various intermediate stops to be made by the train.

In 2 appears more Clearly the construction of the apparatus by means of which the legends shown in Fig. 1 are presented. The panel is shown as constituting suitable frame work 1 and an apertured forward wall 2 in which glass panel sections 3 may be positioned. rIfhe legends 11 and 14 appearing in Fig. 1 are shown to be carried on the belt 11a and the chain conveyor 14a, though the leo'end 11 could be removably affixed to the glass panel section 3 and the belt 11a oinittec The belt 11a if employed is carried and directed by suitable rollers or shafts 20, and is driven preferably by the shaft 21 near the rear of the panel structure. This belt may comprise a wide endless strip shown also in Fig. 4 which may be stenciled to carry the legend appearing on the face of the panel. Suitably disposed behind the glass portion of the panel section is a bank of lights with a suitable reflector and connections for illuminating the legend. rlhis belt carries the name to the ultimate destination, which may be manually set by rotation of the shaft 21 see Fig. 4). The shaft 21 is journalled at 22 and Drive is effected through bevel gearing 24, by the shaft 25 which extends to the front wall of the panel into an aperture 25 in the wall. The forward end of the shaft 25 may have a square shank which lies in the aperture 26, so that a cranl; may be fitted thereon for rotating the shaft and bring the appropriate legend to register with the panel section.

The legend shown at 14 in Fig. 1, which designates the intermediate stops to be made by a particular train, are successively presented in groups similar to those shown. The belt or chain 14a carries a plurality of light boxes 40, shown also in Fig. 3 in which removable slides 4]: positioned, which carry the desired legends. Lights 5l are carried in each box. Contacts for each box are carried at 52, While Fixed contacts 53 are carried on the xed shaft 30, or other suitable support so that the circuits are establisnec only for a box when it is positioned behind a panel section. It will be seen from Fig. 3 that the slides 4l of tue boxes may be conveniently lettered with the names of about three stops, and any suitable means may be provided within the box so that one or more of the portions of the box may be darkened if a particular stop is to be omitted. The boxes are carried on the chain 140, by suitable links 3l, which may have a slotted connection as at 32 to allow for the variation cause by angular displacement the chain advances. rlhe chain is carried by suitable sprockets 33 and 34. The sprocket 34 may be loosely mounted on a fixed shaft 30, and sprocket 33 may be keyed to the shaft 35 and be driven thereby. Referring` to 3 and 4, I show shafts 35 suitably journalled in the frame, each shaft carrying a bevel'gear 36.

A suitable driving motor M carries a pinion 4l to drive a ring gear 42, which may be carried on suitable anti-friction bearings 43. Keyed to the ring gear 42 is a vertical shaft 44 supported on a suitable bearing 45. The motor is adapted to run continuously so that the vertical shaft 44 continuously revolves. l desire, however, to present the light boxes 40 intermittently behind the panel sections.y and to allow them to remain behind the section for a given length of time, and then advance the next adjacent box so that the legend carried by it, is presented for a similar length of time. ln this manner all et tue intermediate stops of a given train are presented in groups of two or three in spaced succession. As long as a particular train is being announced in a given panel section, this information is being continually presented. Segmental gears 46 are secured to the shaft 44 and are adapted to mesh with the bevel gears thereby intermittently drivingthe shafts 35. 'lhus each of the boxes Vis carried to its forward or exposed position and permitted to rest in that position while one of the segmental gears 46 completes a revolution. It is then again advanced as the segmental gear comes into mesh again.

As pointed out above, when a particular train is being announced, current lis supplied to the contacts 53 and each of the light boxes 40 are supplied with a current through contacts 52 vv ien the box arrives in exposed position. To be certain that the box is stopped in registration with the panel section and that contact is maintained at the points 52 and 53, I provide a locking mechanism, shown in Fig. 5, for each one of the shafts 3F. An indenture 3.7 is provided in the back of the bevel gear 36 and a cam surface 47 is provided on the periphery of the segmental bevel gear 46. A dog or latch 43 is resiliently urged into the indenture 37. The dog is engaged by the cam surface 47 so that the shaft 35 is peri .itted to rotate only when being positively driven by the segmental gear, and the shaft is held in fixed position as soon as the dog 48 is released by the cam 47 to enter the indenture 3'?.

Referring again to Figs. l and 4 and to the indicia indicated .at l2, 13 and 15, that is, the initials standing for the name of the railroad, the hour of departure and the track number. rlhese indicia are presented by lettered belts 12a, 13a and 15e. The belt 13e is mounted on suitable rollers or shafts including the shaft l3, which is driven through suitable gearing by a shaft similar to the shaft mentioned above, which may have a suitable shank on the forward end and 1which may extend into an aperture 130 on the forward wall of the panel so that the belt may be advanced in a. manner similar to the advancing of the belt lla. The belt 12a is provided with av driving shaft l2?) and is driven through suitable beveled gearing and the shaft 120 in a similar manner. Belt 15a is driven in a similarV manner through shafts l5?) and 150 and bevel gearing as shown. All the shafts extend through or to the face of the panel, see F ig. l.

Having described the mechanical structure of the device it can be seen that for any particular panel section indicia may be presented to identify the train and to designate the stops made by the train between the point of departure and the ultimate destination; The visibility of this indicia is of course, dependent upon the illumination provided by the lamps 50 and 5l and other suitable lamps at the ends of the panel sections not yet designated, that is, the lamps that illuminate the section portions l2, 13 and l5. It may be further borne in mind vthat after the motor M has been started, the light boxes 40 are continuously, though intermittently moved, by means of the segmental gears. As long as the particular panel section is dark nothing will appear in that section nor will a particular light box make its legend visible unless the light therein be put into the illumination circuit. rl`hus, although, the mechanical movement of the boxes may continue, the announcement is subject to the electrical control through the switch board S, shown in Fig. l.

t will also be understood that prior to thel lighting of a panel, the operator will manually adjust the endless belts, lla, 12a, 13a and 15a so that the panel section will properly identify a train. Since the control of the announcing is then contingent upon the lighting system, it will be best to describe the wiring diagram and its relation to the apparatus as shown in Figs. 6 and '.7.

The bank of lights indicated at 50 in the diagram comprises the lights shown at 50 in Fig. 2 which illuminate the indicia carried lll t white and colored.

by the belt 11a. This bank of lights also illuminates the permanent indicia imposed upon each of the section panels mentioned above. I have indicated the upper row ot' this bank of lights with a letter IV to indicate that they are clear white lights, but the lower group I indicate with the let-ter C to indicate that the lights are colored. The particular lamps may be alternately distributed behind the panel section so that the color ot the whole section is changed when either of the banks are illuminated. I show appropriate wires leading to a power supply line and suitable control through relays to be presently described. I show at l a bank of lights controlled through contacts 52 and 53 mentioned above. These lights may also be white and alternately colored so that the bank may be white or colored depending upon the circuit condition to be presently described. As mentioned above and shown in Fig. 2, the lights are arranged in boxes Ll() and are carried by the endless chains 14a. The lights in the banks 55 and 56 may also be alternately rfhese lights are positioned at the ends of the panel sections to illuminate the name of the ra' road, the words Stops at the track number, and the of departure. As will be seen, all the lights are connected in the same lighting circuits and controlled by the same relays.

In the saine circuit, I include by means ot' the jack 57 and the plug 59, another bank ot lights G which are also clear and colored and are controlled with the rest of the lights in the other banks. These lights are placed near the gate to the train, so that the color will change at the gate when it changes on the panel. In the line leading from the colored gate line to the plug 59, I include thermo flasher 5S so that when the circuit is closed the light will flash on and oil' to attract attention.

To provide general information regarding the train, I propose that a particular section panel be set up and illuminated approximately an hour before the train is ready to leave. To do this it is merely necessary to close the light circuit through the relays A and C so that the banks of white lights are illuminated. I accomplish this by engaging the plug 60 with the jack 62 so that relay energizing cu 1rent may flow through the battery B through the jack and contact a thereof, line 63, relay points 64 and 65, the armatures ot the relays B and D respectively, and through the lines 66 and 67 through the coils ot the relays A and C to ground. Vilhen the relays A and C are enen. .d, the armatures thereof close the illuminating circuit at points 8O and Si respectively.

The battery B is included in the switch board circuit and has the fuse alarm F positioned across the positive lead with the alarm A connected to the fuse bars as shown. The

positive lead from the battery B is divided and extends to the far end of the shank of both of the plugs 60 and 70 as well as to the heads of both plugs 60 and 70. The positive battery lead also extends to similar portions on the plug` 90. The middle sections of the shanks of the plugs provide ground connections through ditferent circuits. The tar end of the shank of the plugs engages contact a ot the jack and the head of the plug engages the contact c ot the jack. It will be seen from the foregoing, that it either et the plugs 60, 70 or 90 are plugged in that positive battery potential will be impressed on the contact o of the jack which will, in turn, close the relays A and C to close the circuits for the white lights in all of the banks.

As mentioned above, it is among the objects of my invention to change the color of the announcement by way of warning that the train is about to depart. To accomplish this, I provide means tor establishing the illuminating circuit through the relays B and D at the relay points G4 and 65 shown in contact in Fig. 7. The relays B and D when energized raise their armatures trom contact points 6d to 64e and from 65 to 65 respectively. I'Vhen the coils of relays B and D are energized. the armatures thereof are lifted to open the circuit at the points 64 and 65 and the relays A and C are cle-energized and the banks of white lights cut out. The current for energizing the relays B and D is supplied from battery 241 through the head of the one ot the plugs to the Contact c ot the jack through the lines and 91 and the signal apparatus K which is in parallel with the relays, back through the jack contact through. the middle of the plug shank then to ground, if a ground connection be provided. If no ground connection be provided for tl e middle portion of the-plug shank, the white lights will continue to show. The change from white to red is thus contingent upon the establishment of the ground circuit.

From the middle or" the shank ot plugs 60 and 70 a line 92 leads to a stationary disc D to a fixed peint contact 93. Revolving about the disc D is a brush which is driven by clockwork and has such arcuate width that the brush will be in contact with any one point for about l5 minutes. The line 94 leads from the brush to ground. Thus, it the plug 60 is put in the jack 62 the lights will burn white until the brush 100 contacts with the point Contact 93 on the disc, whereupon the white lights are extinguished and the colored lights are shown. After the brush 100 leaves the point 93 the circuit of white lights is reestablished to the exclusion ot the red lights by reason of the talling of the armatures of the relays B and D.

The signal device K may be of a type used in connection with telephone switch boards which includes a small magnet M adapted to raise the latch L when energized and having a drop d released by the latch to form a ground connection as shown. Parallel with the magnet is a relay N having an armature which controls the circuit to ground through the line 95 and the signal light 96. rlhe source of power' is the positive lead of the battery B so that the signal light 06 only shows when both the latch L is raised and when the ground connection through the brush 100 is broken, that is, until the ground connection is broken, the relay N is energized and the armature of the relay keeps the signal light circuit open. rlhis armature is allowed to tall only when the brush l) has passed beyond the contact point 93. When the signal light 96 shows, the operator will know that the train has departed and the gate will have closed so the announcement regarding the train may be turned ott. l-le then removes the plug from the jack and may then reset the panel section tor the next train to be announced in that section.

The plug 90 when inserted in the lack 62 has the same eilect ot t L tablishing the connection for the white lights, but by the inclusion of the key 101 the ground circuit instead of the brush l00, the middle plug contact may be grounded at will so that the red lights may be shown whenever the operator so wishes. This plug may advantageously be used tor unusual signals or may be used to' keep the red lights burning for a it'ew i inutes it the train is delayed in departure.

'lhe plug .and jack 59 and 57 maybe located at the gate leading to the train if it be found desirable,so that the gate keeper may darken or illumine the gate light at will.

rlhe foregoing deals with a single panel circuit and only with the control circuits having the plugs 60, and 90. For complete installation atleast one jack similar to the jack 62 is provided tor every panel section. fis shown the plugs G0 and T0 are duplicates in parallel connection and both having a common ground connection through the contact point 93 in the disc l), having two or more plugs for each contact point, two or more panel sections may be displayed simultaneously Jfor trains having the same hour et departure. For a complete installation l provide two ormore plugs similar to the plugs 60 and 70 for each contact point on thc disc l). @t course removable connections at the point S3 may be provided so that a tow plugs may be advanced from one contact point to another to serve the purpose ot the several which are theoretically necessari ln llig. 0 l have indicated that the contact points are uately spaced around the disc D so that the brush 100 will successively engage diirerent points at time intervals. Of

course the time intervals need not be arbitrary andit is within the scope of my invention to adjustably position contact points 93 so that the brush 100 engages a Contact at any particular time.

ln operation the Yoperator will adjust the belts lla, 12a, 13a and 15a to present the desired legend for a particular train and will arrange the slides 4l in the light boxes 40 so that the intermediate stops made by that train will be presented. rEhen at about an hour before train time, a plug 60 previously connected to a given point 93, may be plugged in. lVhen the plug is set into the jack the whole panel section is illuminated with a white light and the intermediate stops are successively presented by means ot the light boxes driven by the motor through the intermittent drive. The plug and ack 59 and 57 may be litted together at this time, it the gate tender so desires, or he may delay the making of his connection until he wishes the light- Gr to show. About litteen minutes before the train leaves, the brush 100 terms a contact with the point 93. This contact closes a ground connection Afor the relays B and l) and changes the color ot the panel section and the gate light from white to red, the gate light then dashing through the flasher 58 mentioned above. Y At the moment of departure the brush will leave the contact and then reestablish the white light circuits. At the same time the signal light 96 will show to notify the operator to change. It the train is delayed for a few moments the operator may insert the plug 90 into the jack 62, and by holding the key 101 may maintain the red lights in the panel section. Vhen he is notified ot the departureV ot the train, the plug 90 may be removed and the panel section may be reset for the nent train to be announced in that section.

Reference is made to my divisional application Seri al No. 240,448 filed December lth, 1927, for claims on such portion of the apparatus herein shown as is concerned with the endless belt features.

l claim:

l. An apparatus tor visually announcing the departure of trains including means for displaying identifying legends concerning a train, and settable means tor automatically presenting, at successive time intervals, in conjunction with said legends, names ot the intermediate stops to be made by the train.

2. An apparatus for visually announcing the departure of trains including means tor displaying identifying legends concerning a train, means for illuminating `the display, means tor changing the color ot the illumination at a predetermined time before the time ot departure and continuing such new color until the departure and means for extinguishing the new color substantially at the instant orn departure.

3. An apparatus :tor visually announcing the departure of trains including means for displaying identifying legends concerning a .lil

train, presenting, at successive time intervals, legends ol the intermediate stops to be made by the train, and changing the color of the whole display at a predetermined time near the time of departure.

l. in a* -aratus tor announcing trains, compris` means tor presenting visually in the same locality, at successive time intervals, the names ot the intermediate stops which re l made by the train, and means for chanLV the color of the illumination of such indication with reference to the time of depart re the train.

5. aA ratus for announcing trains including me s for presenting an illuminated display ot a description oi' the train in white light, means tor presenting, at successive intervals, names oic the intermediate stops to be made by the train, means for changing the color ot the whole announcement at a` time near the ti ie of departure.

6. In a iin announcing apparatus, the combination of a. panel provided with changeable means for indicating the ultimate destination anc the time ot departure of a train and means carrying the names et the diilierent stations at which the train is eX- pected to stop, said means a visible portion adjacent to the legend or ultimate destination, electrically controlled mechanism for driving said means, tor illuminating the displayed names oi" stations, time controlled means tor automaticall i chang'ng such illumination.

7. I he c ,-mbination of two banlrs et lights, a source oit power, circuits connecting the banlrs resnectiifely with the source ot power, "clays iter controlling said circuits, an auniarv source ot power tor actuating said revs,V a direct rctiiun connection to the ani;-

source ot power tor one el' said relays, d time-contro" Eed circuit closing device ot another oit' said relays. on of two banlrs et lights, er, circuits connecting` the nanlrs respectively with the source of power. relays adapted. to control said circuits, an lauxiliary sou ce of power for actuating' said relays, direct return connection to the auX- liar;7 source et power for one of said relays, l

ne other ot said rel ays having a chronometrically contrdilecL return connection including a brush, tii Ae-controlled mechanism tor driving said brush, spaced contacts adapted to be engaged by said brush, a lead tor each of said contacts adapted to be connected to the last mentioned relay.

9. A train announcing device comprising an illuminable panel including a plurality ot' panel sections, each section to he devotedlto displaying information about one train 1ncludinG' the time ot departure thereof, independent illuminating circuits ifor each section, and a chronometric switch at apted to control each circuit including a brush, timecontrolled means for driving said brush, and spaced contacts adapted to be engaged by said brush. Y

l0. In a train announcing apparatus, the combination with display means relative to a train, an electric circuit tor illuminating the display, a manually controlled switch for f said kelectric circuit, a chronoinetric switch including a brush, means tor driving said brush, and spaced contacts adapted to be engaged by said brush at successive intervals, and means whereby the said manually controlled circuit may be connected with various ot said contacts, and means whereby the closing ot the selected contacts by the chronometric switch changes tne color of the illumination caused by the manual switch.

l1. In a train announcing system, the combination of a panel having a series ot panel sections indicating different data concerning trains, means for illuminating such sections, circuits including relays and manual swi ches individually associated with the different sections, a chronometric switch including a brush, means ior driving said brush, and spaced contacts adapted to be engaged by said brush at successive time intervals, circuits adapted to connect desired contacts ot the chronometric switch with any ot the manual switches, the relay circuits being so arranged that the closing of a manual switch, irrespective ot the chronometric switch cause the illumination of the corresponding section, and means whereby the closing or" the corresponding contacts of the chronometric switch will automatically change the color et the illumination caused by the insertion ot the closing of the manual switch.

l2. In a train announcing apparatus, the combination ot a movable conveyor provided with display means relative to the t ain, said display means being` periodically illumined through electrical circuits established through contacts carried by the conveyor, means for periodically moving said conveyor, an electric circuit including the above circuit for illuminating the display, a manualll controlled switch tor said electric circuit, a chronometric switch including a brush, means for driving` said brush, and spaced contacts adapted to be engaged by said brush at successive time intervals, and means whereby the said manually controlled circuit may be connected with various ot' said contacts, and means whereby the closing ot the selected contacts by the chronometric switch changes the color of the illumination caused by the manual switch.

13. In a train announcing apparatus, the combination of a display panel, endless belts carrying sub-panels adapted to be successively displayed as part ot the display panel, said belt being equipped with a series ot boxes having transparenciesr carrying the names ot1 stations, two sets ot electric lamps within the boxes, one set being colored, manually controlled means for energizing one set as the boxes are brought into display position, time controlled means for automatically cutting 5 out one set and energizing the other. set of lamps, a continuously moving motor, and automatic mechanism driven thereby for periodically moving the belt With intervening periods of rest. l@ 14. In a train announcing apparatus, the

combination of a panel provided With changeable means for indicating the ultimate destination and the time of departure of a train, an endless belt carrying the names of the different stations at Which the train is eX aected to stop, said belt having a visible portion adjacent to the legend of ultimate destination, a motor for driving said belt means for illuminating the names of the stations at stated 2a intervals, and time controlled means for automatically changing such illumination.

l5. In a train announcing apparatus, the combination of a panel provided with changeable means for indicating the ultimate destination and the time for departure of a train, an endless belt carrying the names of the dir"- ferent stations at which the train is expected to stop, said names being arranged in a row in the direction of the length of the belt, said Si) belt having a visible portion adjacent to the legend of the ultimate destination, a motor for driving said belt, and time controlled means Jfor illuminating the displayed names Y of stations at stated intervals, and for chang- 53 ing the color of'such illumination as rthe belt travels.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afx' my signature.

VALTER L. WARD. 

